Radio frequency remote-controllable lighting system having plurality of lighting units

Abstract

A lighting system includes a plurality of lighting units each having an element capable of illumination and an associated switch unit which can respond to a radio frequency signal to connect the element to or disconnect the element from a source of electrical energy. A one or more remote control switch units are operable to transmit control signals to control operation of the lighting units, each remote control switch unit being arranged to transmit radio frequency signals which include an identification portion for identifying those lighting units which are to respond to the transmitted signals.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A lighting system for a building comprising: 
       a plurality of lighting units each having an element capable of illumination and an associated control unit which can respond to a radio frequency signal to connect the element to or disconnect the element from a source of electrical energy,  
       said lighting units being located in a number of different locations in the building and  
       a plurality of remote control switch units which are arranged at a number of different locations in the building and operable to transmit control signals to control operation of the lighting units,  
       each remote control switch unit being arranged to transmit radio frequency signals for controlling operation of at least one lighting unit,  
       wherein each remote control switch unit is arranged to transmit a radio frequency signal which includes an identification portion indicative of the remote control switch unit which transmits the signal, and  
       each control unit is located in the vicinity of the associated element capable of illumination and is programmable so that the control unit can be set to respond to the identification portion transmitted from any one or more of the remote control switch units .  
     
     
       2. A lighting system as in claim  1  wherein the transmitted signal which includes said identification portion also includes an instruction portion. 
     
     
       3. A lighting system as in claim  1  wherein the transmitted signal including said identification portion is repeated several times with a gap in time between each transmission. 
     
     
       4. A lighting system as in claim  3 , wherein the gaps in time are substantially equal. 
     
     
       5. A lighting system as in claim  3 , wherein the gaps in time are substantially non-equal. 
     
     
       6. A lighting system as in claim  1  wherein the transmitted radio frequency signals transmitted from each remote control switch unit are scrambled using different scrambling keys, and each lighting unit is arranged to be operated only if the lighting unit receives plural transmissions relating to a switch unit to which it is set to respond. 
     
     
       7. A lighting system as in claim  1 , wherein each remote control switch unit has a programming mode and is programmable by receiving transmitted radio frequency signals. 
     
     
       8. A lighting control system for use in the rooms of a building, said lighting system comprising: 
       plural lighting units disposed at respective locations within said building;  
       each lighting unit including a radio frequency receiver, digital decoder and decision unit connected to control an associated lighting unit switch in response to receipt of a radio frequency signal having at least one predetermined multi-digit control code; and  
       plural remote control switch units also disposed at respective locations within said building;  
       each of said remote control switch units including a radio frequency transmitter having modulating and logic circuits for transmitting a radio frequency signal having at least one predetermined multi-digit control signal;  
       wherein one of said lighting units may be caused to respond to a predetermined set of said remote control switch units and one of said remote control switch units may be caused to control a predetermined set of said lighting units;  
       said remote control switch units transmit plural different assigned control codes; and  
       said lighting units only respond to receipt of at least two different assigned control codes.  
     
     
       9. A lighting control system for use in the rooms of a building, said lighting system comprising: 
       plural lighting units disposed at respective locations within said building;  
       each lighting unit including a radio frequency receiver, digital decoder and decision unit connected to control an associated lighting unit switch in response to receipt of a radio frequency signal having at least one predetermined multi-digit control code; and  
       plural remote control switch units also disposed at respective locations within said building;  
       each of said remote control switch units including a radio frequency transmitter having modulating and logic circuits for transmitting a radio frequency signal having at least one predetermined multi-digit control signal;  
       wherein one of said lighting units may be caused to respond to a predetermined set of said remote control switch units and one of said remote control switch units may be caused to control a predetermined set of said lighting units;  
       said remote control switch units transmit an assigned code plural times; and  
       said lighting units only respond to receipt of an assigned control code at least two times.  
     
     
       10. A method for effecting lighting in the rooms of a building, said method comprising: 
       disposing plural lighting units at respective locations within said building;  
       providing each lighting unit with a radio frequency receiver, digital decoder and decision unit connected to control an associated lighting unit switch in response to receipt of a radio frequency signal having at least one predetermined multi-digit control code;  
       also disposing plural remote control switch units at respective locations within said building; and  
       providing each of said remote control switch units with a radio frequency transmitter having modulating and logic circuits for transmitting a radio frequency signal having at least one predetermined multi-digit control signal;  
       wherein one of said lighting units may be caused to respond to a predetermined set of said remote control switch units and one of said remote control switch units may be caused to control a predetermined set of said lighting units; and  
       said remote control switch units transmit plural different assigned control codes; and  
       said lighting units only respond to receipt of at least two different assigned control codes.  
     
     
       11. A method for effecting lighting in the rooms of a building, said method comprising: 
       disposing plural lighting units at respective locations within said building;  
       providing each lighting unit with a radio frequency receiver, digital decoder and decision unit connected to control an associated lighting unit switch in response to receipt of a radio frequency signal having at least one predetermined multi-digit control code;  
       also disposing plural remote control switch units at respective locations within said building; and  
       providing each of said remote control switch units with a radio frequency transmitter having modulating and logic circuits for transmitting a radio frequency signal having at least one predetermined multi-digit control signal;  
       wherein one of said lighting units may be caused to respond to a predetermined set of said remote control switch units and one of said remote control switch units may be caused to control a predetermined set of said lighting units; and  
       said remote control switch units transmit an assigned code plural times; and  
       said lighting units only respond to receipt of an assigned control code at least two times.